Grease

As they say time flies and to celebrate 40 years since the film starring Olivia Newton John and John Travolta was first released, Pershore Operatic & Dramatic Youth Society took us back in time to the fabulous fifties.

For PODYS, both Mia Brotherton (‘Sandy  Dumbrowski’) and Harry Chamberlain (‘Danny Zuko’) excelled in the main leads, singing and acting with feeling, Harry providing solo high points with ‘Summer Nights’  and Mia with ‘Hopelessly Devoted’ and ‘Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee’.

Their respective gangs the ‘T Birds’ (Cameron Branchett, Jack Dickson, David Ward, Cain Groom) and ‘Pink Ladies’ ( Olivia Filmer-Hare, Hannah Paterson, Anja Du-Toit, Kiaragh Brown) were well cast and all moved well as a group and when also joined by the dancers, full opportunity was taken to stage some exciting choreography.

The chorus added depth to the singing and movement which was well rehearsed, particularly the opening of Act 2 with ‘Shakin’ at the High School Hop’. The scene was almost stolen by ‘DJ Vince Fontaine’ played with great presence and clarity by Felix Silvey.

American accents were tackled well and the big challenge that goes with that is clarity. With an average age for the whole cast of just over 13 years, which was easy to forget, I admired the enthusiasm and speed with which they attacked the dialogue.

Good support also came from the remaining principals; ‘Eugene’ (Ben Harrison), ‘Patty Simcox’ (Daisy Brooks), ‘Miss Lynch’ (Ellen Hallett), ‘Cha-Cha Digregorio’ (Alicia Mardle), ‘Johnny Casino’ (Matthew Kent) and ‘Teen Angel’ (Sofia Meusz.)

Good use was made of several back cloth projections to create the right atmosphere accompanied by a stylistic set and lighting. Balanced sound and a five piece orchestra rounded off a well-dressed production to be proud of, which was enthusiastically received by a full house.

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